Consett ran out comfortable winners in their second pre-season friendly at a sunny Belle View today, beating Birtley Town 8-0.
Continue reading “Consett score eight in pre-season win over Birtley Town”
Tag: james metcalfe
Consett’s opening friendly ends in defeat at Berwick Rangers
Consett got their preparations for their first-ever season in the Northern Premier League underway with a 4-2 friendly defeat to Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park.
Continue reading “Consett’s opening friendly ends in defeat at Berwick Rangers”
Consett keep their title challenge on track with a good three points at Guisborough
Consett put three more valuable points on the board for their Northern League title challenge today with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Guisborough Town.
The Steelmen made three changes to the side which beat Ryhope last week, with James Metcalfe, Ross Wilkinson and Dale Pearson coming into the starting line-up, and a few players in unfamiliar positions.
They got off to the perfect start when Colin Larkin gave them the lead after just two minutes, half-volleying in from inside the six-yard box, pictured top, from Darren Holden’s deep cross.
It was an 11th goal in Consett colours for the veteran striker, who, even at 39, looks like one of the signings of the season.
Guisborough had a good chance to equalise on nine minutes when Jack Blackford, on loan from Marske United, went past two Consett defenders, only to see his shot deflected over the bar.
In the 13th minute a superb Larkin pass sent Pearson through, and as he went to shoot he seemed to be pulled back by James Risbrough on the edge of the area, pictured, but the referee waved play on.
Recent signing Alex Francis tested the home keeper with a well-struck 30-yarder in the 27th minute, while at the other end Joe Bartliff blazed over at the far post when well placed to score.
Calvin Smith then went close with a headed effort from a Jake Orrell free-kick, but home keeper Robbie Deane made a comfortable save down low to his left.
It remained 1-0 at half-time, and Guisborough again dominated the ball after the break, without unduly troubling the resolute Consett defence.
The best chance of the half fell to Orrell on 76 minutes, but his well-struck effort from the edge of the box, pictured, brought the save of the game from Deane.
Five minutes later Consett got a slightly fortunate second goal to clinch the win and three more valuable points. Luke Carr whipped in a free-kick from the right, Dan Capewell got the slightest of touches, and the ball rebounded off the post and in off the helpless Deane.
Consett saw out the rest of the game superbly, and the win meant they stay eight points clear of second-placed Thornaby, who won 1-0 at Crook Town.
The match between third-placed Newton Aycliffe and fourth-placed North Shields was postponed, which leaves the Robins facing something of a fixture pile-up.
They still have 14 league games to play, as well as being in the FA Vase 6th Round and Northumberland Senior Cup semi-final – and that’s not taking into account the League Cup, which hasn’t started yet.
- Full match report, stats and more pictures to follow.
Consett have to settle for a point from six-goal thriller at Ashington
League leaders Consett had to settle for a point on their travels, after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Ashington.
The Colliers dominated the first half, but had to dig deep to twice come from behind in front of a bumper 735 crowd – including a big Consett contingent – at the DWMedia Stadium.
Visiting keeper Kyle Hayes had already made two good saves and Ashington had also hit the bar before the hosts took the lead in the 28th minute.
Max Cowburn put in a great first-time cross from the right and Craig Spooner made it 1-0 with a close-range header.
Consett skipper Arjun Purewal almost equalised on 36 minutes when he hit the post with a header, and then saw keeper Adam McHugh make an unbelievable point-blank save, pictured top, as he tried to lash home the rebound.
The Steelmen were level a minute later when the resulting corner was half-cleared, and young centre-back James Metcalfe fired in off the post from just outside the box.
It remained 1-1 at half-time, but it took only two minutes of the second half for Consett to get their noses in frnt.
Luke Carr’s pass sent Jake Orrell scampering towards the byline, and his low cross across the six-yard box was turned into his own net by helpless defender Curtis Coppen.
Hayes made two more fine saves to keep Consett in front, but feel he could have done better when Ashington made it 2-2 on the hour.
He failed to deal with a cross from the right, and it was sent back across goal for Harmison, for Luke Salmon to score with a close-range volley.
Hayes made amends with a superb double save from Adam Johnson, and there were more chances at both ends, with both teams going for the win.
Consett thought they’d grabbed a winner in the 81st minute when Darren Holden’s excellent cross from the left put a 14th goal of the season on a plate for Dale Pearson, in his first game back from suspension.
But Ashington had other ideas, and made it 3-3 in the 86th minute, when Danny Anderson scored from close range.
With two minutes to go Consett had a big penalty shout turned down when a defender appeared to handle the ball on the ground, but a point apiece was probably the right result.
- Full match report, stats and more pictures to follow.
Pearson leads the way with a treble as Consett put on five-star show at Crook
Consett sent out a powerful statement tonight after their weekend wobble, winning 5-0 at Crook Town to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Northern League.
Top scorer Dale Pearson led the way with a hat-trick after being restored to the starting line-up as one of six changes from the previous game.
Ryan King was given his first start since returning to the club in the summer, and Darren Holden, James Metcalfe, Dan Marriott and Callum Guy also came into the XI.
Dale Pearson took just three minutes to make his mark, sweeping the ball home from close range from Jermaine Metz’s pinpoint cross.
On 15 minutes Consett took control when another of the newcomers, young centre-back James Metcalfe, came in at the back post, pictured below, to finish Luke Carr’s superbly-delivered free-kick.
On 29 minutes it was 3-0 when Jake Orrell’s corner from the right was headed home by yet another of the changes, Ryan King, who outjumped his man.
Five minutes later the result was beyond doubt when the Crook keeper made a fine double save from Carr and then Guy, but was helpless to stop Dale Pearson scoring his second of the night.
It remained 4-0 at half-time, and four minutes into the second half Dale Pearson completed his hat-trick, taking the ball round the keeper, pictured top, after super play by Marriott.
It was almost six on 69 minutes, when Guy hit the post and the rebound fell to King, whose shot was cleared off the line by some excellent defending.
But Consett settled for 5-0, and a home defeat for fellow title hopefuls North Shields at the hands of Ryhope CW meant it was a good night all round.
A special mention should go to the Conny Army, who once again travelled in large numbers, giving Crook a bumper attendance of 503 – by far their biggest so far this season.
- Consett’s next game is on Saturday, 23 October, when they host Atherton Laburnum Rovers from the North West Counties League in the 1st Round of the FA Vase at Belle View Stadium. Kick-off is 3pm, and supporters are reminded that season tickets are not valid for cup matches. Admission will be £7 for adults, £5 for OAPs and £2 for under-16s.
Consett extend lead at the top by beating stubborn Whitley Bay
Consett extended their lead at the top of the Northern League 1st Division to four points today after beating Whitley Bay 3-0 at Belle View Stadium.
The result maintained the Steelmen’s excellent average of scoring three goals a game, but the game was into its closing stages before they secured the points against a stubborn visiting side.
Indeed, Consett were grateful to goalkeeper Kyle Hayes for two excellent saves early in the second half, when the score was 0-0.
The Seahorses arrived in 12th place, but had conceded only eight goals in seven games – one fewer than Consett.
Sure enough, they proved hard to break down, and gave as good as they got in a tight first half.
The closest Consett came to a goal was on 25 minutes when super work by Jermaine Metz down the right saw Stephen Callen’s effort saved at point-blank range by Bay keeper Dan Lister, pictured below.
Lister was in action again four minutes before the break, tipping over Dale Pearson’s well-struck effort, to ensure the half-time score was 0-0.
Hayes produced the first of his big saves just a minute into the second half, getting a good strong hand to Jason Chanayire’s shot, and eight minutes later he stood up well to save from Richard Coulson.
The importance of the saves was emphasised in the 58th minute, when Consett took the lead. A defender clipped the heels of Callen as he chased a great Calvin Smith pass into the box, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Dale Pearson, who missed from the spot last week against Thornaby, stepped up to take the kick, and although Lister got a hand to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. It was the big striker’s 10th goal in 11 games this season.
It took until the 83rd minute for Consett to make the game safe, and it was a great moment for young centre-back James Metcalfe, whose glancing header from Jake Orrell’s left-wing corner made it 2-0, pictured top.
Five minutes later it was 3-0 when sub Darren Holden played in Luke Carr, whose 20-yarder was helped in by a big deflection which left the keeper flat-footed, pictured below.
With second-placed Thornaby losing 5-0 at home to a West Auckland side who suddenly seem to have clicked, the win extended Consett’s lead at the top to four points.
Next up for the Steelmen is a visit to Ryhope CW’s Recreation Ground on Tuesday night. Kick-off is 7.30pm.
- Full match report and more pictures to follow.
Consett round off pre-season with a last-gasp win over Workington
Consett completed their pre-season preparations today with a 2-1 win over Workington at a sunny Belle View Stadium.
Continue reading “Consett round off pre-season with a last-gasp win over Workington”
